He had owned and operated the AAA Awning Co. of St. Marys, retiring due to ill health. He had attended Port Clinton, Ohio, High School, the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and Bethany United Methodist Church in Celina. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, enlisting in 1945 and serving in the European Theatre until 1947. He was a life member of American Legion Post #323 and VFW Post #9289 in St. Marys, and served as the VFW Post Commander, receiving the All-State Team Post Commander Award for 2002-2003.